Highlights
- •Geospatial analysis of individual & community risk factors for firearm injury.
- •Firearm injuries cluster in neighborhoods of low socio-economic status.
- •Black race and male sex are associated with 5x higher risk of firearm injury.
- •Individual characteristics affect firearm injury risk more than community factors.
- •Injury prevention efforts should focus on young, Black men in urban centers.
Abstract
Background
The relationship between individual/socioeconomic characteristics and firearm injury
risk in an urban center was evaluated.
Methods
A hospital registry was used to identify individuals in Baltimore City who experienced
interpersonal firearm injury in 2019 (FA). Injuries that did not satisfy this criterion
were used as a comparison group (NF). Socioeconomic characteristics were linked to
home address at the block group level. Regression analysis was used to determine predictors
of firearm injury. Clusters of high and low firearm relative to non-firearm injuries
were identified.
Results
A total of 1293 individuals were included (FA = 277, NF = 1016). The FA group lived
in communities with lower income (p = 0.005), higher poverty (p = 0.007), and more
Black residents (p < 0.001). Individual level factors were stronger predictors of
firearm injury than community factors on multivariate regression with Black race associated
with 5x higher odds of firearm injury (p < 0.001). Firearm injury clustered in areas
of low socioeconomic status.
Conclusions
Individual versus community factors have a greater influence on firearm injury risk.
Prevention efforts should target young, Black men in urban centers.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 16, 2023
Accepted:
January 15,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 9,
2023
Received:
November 2,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
